Image: Chris Welch / The Verge
Afeela is starting to become a little bit more than just a feeling. The electric vehicle that’s a joint venture between Sony and Honda is finally available for preorder. And it only took five years to get here.
At its press conference at CES today, Sony Honda Mobility announced pricing and preorder details for Afeela 1. The vehicle will come in two trims: the $89,900 Afeela 1 Origin and the $102,900 Afeela 1 Signature. Both prices include a complimentary three-year subscription to a variety of in-car features, including the company’s Level 2+ driver assist and an AI-powered personal assistant.
Preorders start today, and interested buyers who live in California — and apparently only California — can plunk down a refundable $200 deposit to get in line to buy one. It’s unclear if and when Afeela will be available to the other 49 states.
We’re also getting some new specs, including up to 300 miles of EPA-estimated range, and built in support for Tesla’s Supercharger network. The only paint option appears to be “Core Black.” The pricier Signature trim will start deliveries in 2026, while customers will have to wait until 2027 for the less expensive Origin.
Screenshot: Sony Honda Mobility
Afeela 1 with the native NACS charging port.
The latest version of the prototype, which Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno described as “near final,” still looks like a mashup of a Tesla with the Lucid Air, with short overhangs and a long wheelbase.
It boasts screens across the width of the dashboard, 40 sensors and cameras for semi-autonomous driving assistance, all-wheel drive, and hints at augmented reality integration and “virtual worlds” embedded into the driving experience. As a result, Sony’s first foray into the automotive sector is designed to compete with some of the top players in the luxury EV space.
Mizuno demonstrated one of the more advanced features when he summoned the vehicle on stage by speaking the voice command “Come on out, Afeela” into his phone. (He also said it was a “tech demo for this showcase,” so it’s a little unclear whether voice commands will become a production feature.)
A lot has changed since Sony first rolled out its Vision concept in 2020: demand for EVs in the US spiked, then flatlined, and now has basically stabilized; the Biden administration rolled out generous incentives for EV buyers, but they’ll likely get eliminated by the incoming Trump administration; and China has emerged as the world’s dominant EV producer. That last fact has recently spurred Honda to initiate a merger with Nissan in the hopes of better competing with Chinese companies on EVs.
And now the Afeela, with its sleek sedan looks and plethora of interior touchscreens, is moving steadily closer to becoming a real car that you can really buy.
The preorder details aren’t all we’re getting from Sony Honda Mobility this week. Tomorrow, the company will hold another press conference to outline the customer experience of shopping for and owning an Afeela.
